The New International Encyclopædia/Rifle-bird

RIFLE-BIRD, or. An Australian bird of paradise (Ptiloris paradiseus), with a long curved bill, and in size about equal to a large pigeon. The upper parts are velvety black, tinged with purple; the under parts velvety black, diversified with olive-green. The crown of the head and the throat are covered with innumerable little specks of emerald green, of most brilliant lustre. The tail is black, the two central feathers rich metallic green. The female is much more plainly colored. The name was given by early Australian settlers in allusion to the resemblance between the plumage of the male and the uniform of a familiar rifle brigade.